Stars recall Tugnutt, place him on IR: Erskine recalled from Utah

Dallas Stars General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today that the club has recalled goaltender Ron Tugnutt from the Utah Grizzlies, the Stars' primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL), and placed him on the injured reserve list with a groin injury. The Stars have also recalled defenseman John Erskine from a conditioning assignment in Utah.

Tugnutt, 36, was assigned to Utah on Jan. 7 after clearing NHL waivers and played in three games for the Grizzlies, posting an 0-2-1 mark with a 3.36 goals-against-average and an .878 save percentage. Tugnutt has appeared in five games with the Stars this season, posting a 1-3-0 mark with a 2.57 goals-against-average and an .889 save percentage. In 531 career NHL games,Tugnutt has notched a 184-235-62 record with a 3.06 goals-against-average and a .895 save percentage.

Erskine, 23, played in two games for the Grizzlies during his conditioning assignment, posting four penalty minutes. He missed seven games from Dec. 29 to Jan. 10 with an ankle injury, being placed on the injured reserve list. Erskine has appeared in 31 games this season for the Stars, registering one assist and 79 penalty minutes. The 6-4, 215-pound defenseman has played in 80 career NHL games, scoring two goals and two assists for four points with 170 penalty minutes.

The Stars (19-18-8-0) continue their five-game road trip tonight at Colorado (8 p.m., ESPN). The club will be at Calgary on Saturday 17 (9 p.m., FSN), at Vancouver on Mon., Jan. 19 (9 p.m., kdfi) and at Edmonton on Tues., Jan. 20 (8 p.m., FSN).